Select Committee suppresses Smith’s bungling of RMA reforms

After 11 months, including 5 months of inaction, Government members of the Environment Select Committee today took what the Clerk of Parliament called the “extraordinary” step to block anyreport back to Parliament explaining the delay, says Labour’s Environment spokesperson David Parker.

“The Bill amending the RMA returns to the House without explanation. National lost control of the Bill after failing to meet the report back date set by Parliament.

“The Bill amending the RMA returns to the House without explanation. National lost control of the Bill after failing to meet the report back date set by Parliament.

“Today the Clerk of Parliament was called to the committee and he told all members that it would be ‘extraordinary’ not to have any report and ‘extraordinary’ to block minority reports.

“National members, plainly acting on the instructions of others further up the chain, then voted to block the report prepared by Committee staff and the minority reports.

“The abuse of Parliamentary process was to cover up the shambolic process, and prevent opposition Parties explaining how flawed the Bill is,” says David Parker.